Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, recently partnered with Google to sponsor Google CSI: Lab, during GITEX Technology Week, described as the largest Information Technology exhibition and conference in the Middle East.

Google CSI (Creative Skills for Innovation): Lab are user-centered classes focused on sophisticated problem-solving techniques that aid in developing an innovative mindset teaching people how to tackle complex problems/opportunities and foster an innovation culture in a work environment.

Gulf Air’s support of Google CSI:Lab is stated to be in line with the airline’s CSR initiatives — helping to increase the influx of technology and new ideas into the Kingdom.

Due to the success of the event, Gulf Air and Google are now looking to expand their partnership to develop and consider opportunities that will enhance the services offered to the carrier’s passengers.

Speaking of the partnership, Jassim Haji, Gulf Air’s IT director, said: “Gulf Air is always open to considering opportunities that can stimulate further innovation and improvement, especially from vendors as renowned and pioneering as Google. I look forward to what we hope will be a mutually beneficial and successful partnership.”

"Innovation must be at the heart of every business to be able to tackle future business complexities, business model evolutions and the speed of decision-making. Google CSI:Lab is an incredible methodology to help move faster in this new digital world, become more end-user driven and use a prototype-driven approach to tackling internal and external challenges," said Michael Korbacher, Director Google for Work.

Gulf Air was recently honored, for the third consecutive year, at the sixth edition of the ICT conference, MEET ICT, and the Bahrain International Technology Exhibition (BITEX) — held in Bahrain earlier in January. During the last GITEX Technology Week, Gulf Air won three major technology awards for the second consecutive year.